Device for drying objects

ABSTRACT

A device for supporting objects for drying. This device contains a basin, for receiving fluid that drips off of these drying objects. Attached to the basin is a first rack, wherein this first rack has a front end and a back end. The back end of the said at least one rack is rotatably supported within the basin. In addition, there is also a second rack. This second rack is rotatably attached to the basin and when in use extends in a substantially upright or vertical position. Both the first rack and the second rack comprise a series of parallel extending support members that are spaced apart from each other to receive a plate between these parallel extending members. These parallel extending members are also designed to support a series of pots on either the first rack or the second rack wherein these parallel extending members allow water to drip down through the members and into the basin. This device can also include a support rack that can be inserted into a basin and be used to secure the support element in place to allow the support element to set the first rack at a particular height.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device for supporting objects for drying.More particularly, this invention relates to an adjustable device thatis designed to allow plates, pots, kitchen utensils and silverware todry.

Other dishracks are known in the art. In particular, U.S. Pat. Nos.378,692; 815,480; 990,454; 1,564,594; 1,712,342; 1,714,629; 1,822,087;2,443,404; 2,479,118; 2,516,088; 2,708,037; 2,841,288; 2,936,898;2,958,424; 3,025,967; 3,027,041; 3,464,566; 4,169,638; 4,726,475;4,756,582; 4,969,560; 5,119,943; 5,332,105; 5,480,035; 5,485,927;5,503,279; 5,651,525; 6,170,676; 6,179,134; 6,357,605 incorporatedherein by reference; U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,704 incorporated herein byreference; U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,956 incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for supporting objects for drying.This device contains a basin, for receiving water that drips off ofthese drying objects. Attached to the basin is a first rack. This firstrack has a front end and a back end wherein the back end is rotatablysupported within the basin. In addition, there is also a second rackthat is rotatably attached to the basin. Both the first rack and thesecond rack contain a series of parallel extending support members orslats that are spaced apart from each other to receive a plate therebetween. The slats or members are spaced far enough apart so that theyallow water to drip down through the bars or slats and into the basin.

In addition, rotatably coupled to the first rack is a support bar or aset of legs. These legs are for rotatably adjusting the height of thefront end of this rack. Furthermore, disposed within the basin is aseries of support strips or tabs wherein the support tabs are designedto support the legs or support bar in a particular position to keepthese legs from rotating when the support bar is supporting the rack.The support strips extend parallel to each other inside the basin andhave at least two breaks or gaps in them allowing a support bar to beinserted therein.

This device is also designed to prevent any water or other materialsfrom flowing onto a counter top outside of the basin. For example, whenin use, the catch basin or basin contains a series of substantiallyvertical walls to trap this water within the basin. In this way, thewater will not flow outside of the basin and onto a counter top.However, there are at least two drainage holes disposed within thesubstantially vertical walls to allow a user to easily pour out thewater disposed within the basin into a sink.

The device also contains an adjustable tray attached to the basin forsupporting a series of utensils. The adjustable tray also comprises aset of adjustable legs rotatably attached to the basin, and a top plateattached to the adjustable legs, wherein this top plate has holes forsupporting the silverware and utensils in an upright manner. The topplate is adjustable from a folded up position to a folded down positionso that the tray can be stored easily. The tray can be selectivelyremoved from the basin by removing a bottom tray first, and thenremoving the adjacent trays as well.

One of the benefits of this invention is that it can be folded down intoa storage position wherein the rack can then be stored away. Tofacilitate this feature, there is also a lock disposed within the basinwherein this lock is designed to receive a complimentary lock in theform of a flange to lock the second rack in place in the basin. Theseflanges can be formed in the form of a substantially semi-cylindricalshape wherein these flanges can extend along in a substantiallyelongated manner. These flanges can be formed such that their roundedsides can snap, one over the other so that a first flange attached tothe second rack, can snap over a second flange attached to the basin,locking the first flange in place underneath the second flange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings which disclose one embodiment of the presentinvention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings aredesigned for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition ofthe limits of the invention.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters denote similarelements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 2 represents a top perspective view of a blown up section of theinvention;

FIG. 3 represents a top perspective blown up view of the invention in asecond position relative to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 represents a side perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 5A is a front side view of a support rack;

FIG. 5B is a top plan view of the support rack in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a side view of the support rack in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5D is a perspective view of the support rack shown in FIG>5A;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a basin;and

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a support rack inserted into the basinshown in FIG. 6B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the invention which is essentially adevice 10 for drying plates, pots and silverware. This device includes afirst rack 12, which includes a plurality of substantially parallelspaced support elements or members 13 for example, in the form of flatbars or slats. There is also a complimentary opposite rack 14 coupled tobasin 20. Rack 14 includes a plurality of parallel spaced slats orsupport members 15. Substantially parallel support elements 13 and 15can essentially be of any desired shape; such as rods or support membersin a star shaped profile, as well.

First rack 12 is supported on a first end by rotatably attaching tobasin 20 and on an opposite end by a support bar 16. Support bar 16 haslegs and is essentially U-shaped and is rotatably coupled via a hinge tofirst rack 12. Second rack 14 includes a flange or a locking member 17coupled to a side section of the rack. This flange 17 is used to locksecond rack 14 on top of first rack 12 in catch basin 20 (see FIG. 2).Catch basin 20 has many rounded sides, however, it also has a curvedback, including a back face 21 and legs 22 that extend out therefrom.Exposed in basin 20 are a plurality of parallel spaced locking andspacing ribs 24. These locking and spacing ribs have breaks in them 23and 25 which allow support bar 16 to be inserted thereto to supportfirst rack 12 at different angles. This design therefor makes first rack12 adjustable in height and angle relative to its connection to basin20. With both racks (12 and 14), at the first end, a first corner ofthese racks couple to basin 20 while opposite corners are coupled to ahinge (not shown) adjacent to utensil rack 30, this hinge is thencoupled to basin 20.

Utensil rack 30 is coupled to basin 20. Utensil rack 30 is collapsibleand is used as a separate rack for supporting a set of utensils fordrying. Utensil rack 30 is completely removable from basin 20 to allowfor easy cleaning of basin 20. Utensil rack 30 has a plurality ofsubstantially square shaped receptacle openings 32 a, 32 b, and 32 c ina top plate 34. Top plate 34 is coupled to a base section 36 via aplurality of rotatable legs 38. Base section 36 is then coupled to catchbasin 20 either by snap-in connection or screws. In this case, there isa bottom tray 39 that is selectively removable from basin 20 by pullingit out from basin 20.

FIG. 2 discloses a close-up view of the device shown in FIG. 1. In thisview, flange 17 is shown latching underneath flange connection or lock26. In this case, flange 17 and flange 26 form a locking system 27 whichlocks second rack 14 on top of first rack 12. With this design, device10 can be folded up on its back face or side to stand up on legs 22while keeping rack 14 locked on top of rack 12, keeping the devicecompact and easily storable.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 2 and inFIG. 1. In this view, it shows the locking system in an unlockedposition wherein flange 17 snaps out and away from flange 24. Catchbasin 20 and/or rack 14 are made of a flexible material so that flange17 can unlatch from flange 26, making this device selectively lockablein place, and selectively unlockable to allow first rack 12 to move intoa position for use. These flanges 17 and 26 are formed as roundedsemi-cylindrical elements that are designed to allow one flange to slideover an adjacent flange and then snap in, in a locking manner. Forexample, when locking rack 14 in place, rack 14 can be pressed down suchthat flange 17 snap adjusts laterally due to the flexibility of rack 14to snap down over opposing flange 26, wherein in this case, rack 14 canbe made of plastic or any other elastic type material to allow secondrack 14 to lock in place when being snapped down.

FIG. 4 shows a side perspective view of device 10 in an unlockedposition. In this view, flange 17 is shown extending out from the sideregion of rack 14 wherein flange 17 is essentially rounded on itsconnection edge and extends only a fraction of a portion of the lengthof second rack 14. With this design, because rack 14 is selectivelylockable and unlockable from basin 20, the device can be easily storedor easily positioned in a position of use. In addition, because flange24, as shown in FIG. 3, is molded with basin 20, it forms an easilymanufactured lock accordingly with flange 17 to selectively lock orunlock device 10.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D show different views of a support rack 100 whichincludes a first bar 106 and a second bar 108 wherein first bar 106 andsecond bar 108 joined by a plurality of cross bars 110. These pluralityof cross bars 110 include a first set of indents 102 and a second set ofindents 104. First bar 106 and second bar 108 have ends that are turneddown to support cross bars 110 above basin 20 a (See FIGS. 6A and 6B).Thus, while cross bars 110 are supported above basin 20, indents 102 and104 extend down into a basin 20 a shown in FIG. 6B to create an extendedchannel for inserting support arm or support element 16. Thus thissupport rack which can be selectively insertable and secured to or restin basin 20 a, is used in place of locking and spacing ribs 24. Becausethis rack 100 is selectively insertable into and removable from basin 20a, it allows for a more simple design of basin 20 a.

This more simple design of basin 20 a is important because while basin20 a can be made from any known material such as plastic, wood or metal,if basin 20 is made from a metal, then the more simple the design, theeasier it is to mold the final product. Therefore, for example in oneembodiment basin 20 a can be made from a metal such as stainless steel,while support rack 100 can also be made from stainless steel. Supportrack can then be placed in this simple basin 20 a such that it rests inbasin 20 a, wherein it can then be locked in place when racks 12 and 14are locked in place.

Accordingly, while at least one embodiment of the present invention hasbeen shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes andmodifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A device for supporting objects for drying comprising: a) a basin; b)at least one rack having a first end and a second end wherein saidsecond end is attached to said basin; c) at least one additional rackrotatably attached to said basin, said at least one additional rack andsaid at least one rack for supporting the objects above the basinwherein said at least one rack and said at least one additional rackeach comprise a series of substantially parallel extending supportmembers wherein said substantially parallel extending support membersare spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive a plate there between;d) a support element rotatably attached to said at least one rack,wherein said support element is for rotatably adjusting a height of saidfirst end of at least one rack; e) at least one flange coupled to saidat least one additional rack forming a rack flange; and f) at least oneflange coupled to said basin forming a basin flange, wherein said atleast one rack flange is adapted to selectively snap over said at leastone basin flange to lock said at least one rack and said at least oneadditional rack in a locked position.
 2. The device as in claim 1,further comprising a series of support strips disposed within said basinwherein said support strips are designed to support said support elementin a position to keep said plurality of legs from rotating when saidplurality of legs are supporting said at least one rack.
 3. The deviceas in claim 1, wherein said basin contains a plurality of substantiallyvertical walls to enclose said basin.
 4. The device as in claim 1,further comprising an adjustable tray attached to said basin forsupporting a series of utensils.
 5. The device as in claim 4, whereinsaid adjustable tray is adjustable so as to fold down into said basin.6. The device as in claim 1, wherein said at least one rack, said atleast one additional rack, and said support element are adjustable tocollapse into said basin.
 7. The device as in claim 4, wherein saidadjustable tray comprises a top tray, a bottom tray and an intermediateremovable tray and a plurality of legs wherein said bottom tray iscoupled to said basin, said top tray is coupled to said bottom tray viasaid legs and said intermediate removable tray fits inside said bottomtray.
 8. The device as in claim 7, wherein said intermediate removabletray includes a plurality of holes to allow said intermediate removabletray to drain water when removed from said bottom tray.
 9. The device asin claim 8, wherein said intermediate removable tray further comprises atab for allowing a user to remove said intermediate removable tray fromsaid bottom tray.
 10. The device as in claim 1, wherein said at leastone additional rack is made from a flexible material which bends toallow said rack flange to adjust to slide over said basin flange to locksaid at least one additional rack in place.
 11. The device as in claim10, wherein said at least one additional rack is made from plastic. 12.The device as in claim 1, wherein said rack flange and said basin flangeare formed in semi-cylindrical shapes.
 13. A device for supportingobjects for drying comprising: a) a basin; b) at least one rack having afirst end and a second end wherein said second end is attached to saidbasin; c) at least one additional rack rotatably attached to said basin,said at least one additional rack and said at least one rack forsupporting the objects above the basin wherein said at least one rackand said at least one additional rack each comprise a series ofsubstantially parallel extending support members wherein saidsubstantially parallel extending support members are spaced apart asufficient distance to receive a plate there between; d) a supportelement rotatably attached to said at least one rack, wherein saidsupport element is for rotatably adjusting a height of said first end ofat least one rack; e) at least one support rack that can be placedwithin said basin, said at least one support rack having at least oneindent for receiving said support element so that support element can beselectively secured to allow said support element to support said atleast one rack at a particular height. f) at least one flange coupled tosaid at least one additional rack forming a rack flange; and g) at leastone flange coupled to said basin forming a basin flange, wherein said atleast one rack flange is adapted to selectively snap over said at leastone basin flange to lock said at least one rack and said at least oneadditional rack in a locked position.